Early Intervention Programs

The primary focus of early intervention is family education, training and support. The program is designed to enable parents and other caregivers to assess their child’s developmental needs, incorporate educational and therapeutic strategies into daily routines and utilize available community resources.

Children between birth and three years of age who exhibit developmental delay or are at risk for a developmental delay because of health or environmental conditions are eligible for early intervention. Early intervention specialists including; educators, therapists, social workers, psychologists, and nurses work with families to develop strategies to incorporate intervention objectives into their daily routines. Services are provided in the family’s home, the child’s daycare, the early intervention center or other community locations where the child and family spend time.

Criterion sponsors eight early intervention programs (EIPs) located in Boston and its suburbs, as well as Central and Western Massachusetts. The combined enrollment of the Criterion early intervention programs currently exceeds 4500 families annually. Services are provided by a staff of over 250 child development professionals. Each program is funded by private health insurance and the Department of Public Health (DPH).